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Take Yooka-Replaylee For A Spin In This New Switch 2 Demo

Playtonic and PM Studios have today released a free Switch 2 demo for the throwback platforming remake Yooka-Replaylee, giving you a chance to try before you buy.
You'll find the new demo on the Switch 2 eShop right now, and, you'll be pleased to hear, all the data carries over to the full game — so there's no time wasted if you choose to go all-in on the full release afterwards.
The demo announcement kicks off Playtonic's 10-day countdown to the release of the Yooka-Replaylee physical, which launches on 18th December. This boxed release bundles in a map and some stickers alongside the pièce de résistance, the full game on a cartridge.
Rockstar

Xbox Winter Demo Fest Now Live, 20+ Games Available To Play For Free

The Xbox Winter Demo Fest for 2025 (otherwise known as the Indie Selects Demo Fest) has now kicked off, allowing you to play over 20 games for free. It's not officially being promoted at the time of writing, but we've done some sleuthing and discovered these 20+ titles that are part of it — with 30+ set to be announced in total.
With that in mind, we'll be updating this list as more demos become available over the next 24 hours.
As of December 9th, you'll see a tab for the Xbox Demo Fest on your console's dashboard. Before then, you can use the links below, navigate to the "demos" section of the Xbox Store, or search for the ones you want to try manually.
Let's take a look at more details on all of the available demos in the Xbox Winter Demo Fest 2025 so far:
Aikyam Demo: "It’s up to Vishva, Ramli, and Guruji to dazzle the hearts of disgruntled villagers with extravagant turn-based battles and rally them against the demons in this Bollywood-inspired fantasy RPG!"
AWAYSIS Demo: "A cutting edge blend of reactive and emergent physics, backed up by arcade-tight controls. It’s all about momentum and mayhem as you bounce off walls and bonk your enemies into the abyss."
Biped 2 Demo: "Biped 2 is the sequel to the exciting game about two charming bipedal robots, Aku and Sila, who have each other’s backs and embark on incredible adventures side by side. Dive into this groovy co-op action-adventure game, full of puzzles, friendship, support, and fun!"
Boxes: Lost Fragments Demo: "As a legendary thief, your next assignment lures you into a grand and lavish mansion. There you find a series of puzzle boxes, designed for an unknown purpose."
Cash Cleaner Simulator: Piggy Bank Demo: "Cash Cleaner Simulator welcomes you into the life of a low-level criminal with a particular specialty. When your underworld contacts need dirty money to come back squeaky clean, they call you."
CASSETTE BOY Demo: "At first glance Cassette Boy looks like a charming pixel-style adventure, but beneath the surface lies something far more complex. What seems like a flat 2D pixel world is in fact a three-dimensional space. By rotating the environment, the boundaries of existence shift. What comes into view becomes real, and what slips away from sight fades into nothingness."
ColorBlend FX: Desaturation Demo: "Help Splatians blend the stolen colors back with the world and get rid of the evil Lord Ashen in this 2.5D puzzle-platformer metroidvania. Splat'n'stomp juicy enemies, swim in paint pools, solve physics and color puzzles and of course survive the death while figuring out the evil plans of the Lord."
Contraband Police Demo: "The year is 1981, and as a young officer trainee, you are assigned to work at a border post in the mountainous region of Karikatka. Entry into the Acarist People's Republic is strictly regulated by the party and your every move is monitored! The situation at the border escalates when your comrade is killed during one of the interventions..."
Empire in Decay Demo: "Empire in Decay is a roguelike deckbuilding turn-based tactical game, loosely based on chess. Its gameplay has been broadened with the use of cards and the progression of units. In the game, you'll proceed through procedurally generated routes across the districts of Daandria, the capital of the Empire."
Froggy Hates Snow Demo: "In this demo, you are Froggy — a determined survivor in a hostile, snowy desert. Dig paths through the snow to discover treasure, battle eerie creatures, and adapt in a world where warmth is survival and the freezing temperatures aren’t the only thing that can kill!"
Go North - Demo: "Go North is a cozy and immersive maze adventure. With the help of numerous magical and technological items, navigate beautifully unique mazes and explore expansive worlds in a story-driven adventure like no other."
Incantation Demo: "Immerse yourself in the chilling tale of the Chen Family Village, where a mother searching for her missing daughter accidentally stumbles into a haunted place filled with mysterious cults."
Knuckle Jet Demo: "Knuckle Jet is an off-the-wall, jetpunk, fast-paced, ricochet action platformer, where you use the titular Knuckle Jet to propel yourself through the air, bounce off walls and smash enemies."
Kristala Demo: "Kristala is a dark fantasy Action RPG that invites you into the role of a magically gifted feline warrior on a quest to master the ancient magics of the Sacred Kristals."
Limbot Demo: "Welcome to Limbot, the ultimate physics-based city stomping experience where up to 4 players must attempt to pilot a person dressed as a giant cardboard robot! Embrace the chaos in a paper-craft metropolis designed to be crushed, smashed, and destroyed!"
Megabattle Demo: "Build your DECK and your ROBOT. Fight with STRATEGY and don’t die — roguelike style. A unique and FUN game where you’ll create your own character and develop a one-of-a-kind way to FIGHT."
Pathologic 3 Demo: "You have only 12 days to stop the lethal plague. But in your hands lies the most valuable resource—time. Travel into the future to witness the worst outcomes. Correct mistakes in the past to change them. Bend the fates of people around you to save or condemn you—in search of answers."
Reef Defense Demo: "Reef Defense is a fast-paced, intense strategy game where relentless waves of crustaceans are coming for your precious eggs! Arm your reef with strategically positioned defenses and hold the line. Can you outlast the swarm, or will your eggs become crab food?"
Relooted Demo: "A crew. A job. A plan. Toss those ingredients together, and you’ve got yourself a classic heist — but with a few twists. Your crew members are everyday citizens (from different countries in Africa) with pretty normal careers. The job is to liberate African artifacts from Western museums. And the plan? Well, that’s up to you to create."
Showgunners Demo: "In a dystopian future where corporations rule, a brutal reality show is the hottest entertainment property in town! You play as Scarlett Martillo, a contestant out for revenge. To win, you must navigate dangerous urban arenas packed with lethal traps and face off against hordes of heavily-armed psychopaths."
Worshippers of Cthulhu Demo: "Worshippers of Cthulhu Demo is a game that combines city-building, resource management, and strategic decision-making within a world inspired by H.P. Lovecraft."
Under Par Golf Architect Demo: "Design world-class golf courses by terraforming rough wasteland into lush fairways for smooth drives and pristine greens to ensure a true roll for every putt."
Will you be trying any of these free Xbox demos during the 2025 Winter Demo Fest? Let us know down below.
Rockstar

Xbox Dev Reveals That Sony Asked About Microsoft Flight Sim Going To PS5 Years Ago

Back in September, we learnt that Microsoft Flight Simulator was jetting off to PS5 this year - and now an interesting interview with an Xbox developer talks about the series' interesting journey to PlayStation platforms.
Speaking with XDA, Microsoft's Flight Sim lead dev Jorg Neumann talked about the upcoming port and how it all started. Neumann says that he suggested moving the series over to PS5 after 2020's Microsoft Flight Simulator (an idea that MS shot down), before a Sony dev came back to him a little while later.
Neumann says that shortly after this exchange, the team started to plan for PS5 - after finishing up the Xbox and PC versions of the 2024 release of course. The MSFS developer also says they "think that really kicked off a whole avalanche of Xbox titles coming to PlayStation", although we're not entirely sure on that one given that the multiplatform shift seems more related to the ActBlizz deal than anything else.
Either way, it's pretty interesting that Sony itself suggested getting MSFS on PS5, and indeed that some internal Microsoft devs actually discussed it way before the company went full multiplatform. MSFS has ended up on PS5 in the end, then, with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 making its debut today, December 8th.
Rockstar

Award-Winning Slice-Of-Life Soccer Game 'Despelote' Comes To Switch This Week

One of the most unique a beautiful games of the year — despelote — is all about the beautiful game itself and the communities it helps build, and it's coming to Switch on 11th December in North America for just $14.99.
Japan will get it on 18th December, while the rest of the world will have to wait for kick-off on 13th January 2026.
despelote isn't your typical soccer game where you're kicking about a ball to win matches; this is a slice-of-life narrative-driven experience which is all about the importance of soccer to Ecuador and, in particular to eight-year-old Julián, in the run up to the World Cup.
In despelote, you'll dribble, pass, and shoot the ball around Quito, but not for victory — simply, to connect. How will people react? Will Ecuador qualify for the World Cup? And how does everyone feel about the beautiful game, of their city, their country?
It's a short game too, clocking in at around 2 hours, but from looking at reviews back when the game launched on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox in May, it'll stick with you long after. Here's a rundown of what toe expect from the game:


Images: Panic
Have you been waiting to kick-off with despelote on Switch? Will you be scoring on 11th December? Let us know in the comments.
Rockstar

"My Staff Have Had Customers Threatening To Rip Their Heads Off" - Retailers And Collectors Tell Of Pokémon TCG Woes

The fact that the Pokémon Trading Card Game has created its own mini-economy isn't new news – back when it launched in the late '90s, there were accusations that it was encouraging gambling amongst kids, with many schools banning the cards from their playgrounds.
In more recent years, however, the market for collectable cards has risen to hitherto unseen levels of insanity, driven by the fact that the children who grew up with Pokémon in the '90s and 2000s are now adults and can invest heavily in picking up the rarest examples – and the high prices have predictably encouraged in opportuniustic scalpers moving in, drawn by the promise of turning small purchases into hundreds of dollars.
The end result, rather sadly, is that younger Pokémon fans are being denied the chance to grab cards for themselves.
British news outlet The Guardian has been speaking to retailers and fans to get their take on the current state of the Pokémon Trading Card Game in the UK, and it's not particularly pleasant reading.
Ben Thyer, the owner of the independent store BathTCG, says:
Demand has consistently outstripped supply in the world of Pokémon TCG for a few years now, but Thyer thinks a correction is perhaps on the way – although it may not last for very long:
Rockstar

Paramount Makes Rival Bid For Warner Bros. After Netflix's $82 Billion Offer, Includes Game Studios

Update [Mon 8th Dec 2025, 8:15am]: Paramount Skydance has launched a rival bid for "the entire company" of Warner Bros. Discovery — including streaming, TV networks and its gaming division — following Netflix's own agreement from last Friday (via BBC).
Paramount is offering $30 per share directly to shareholders, stating that this is a "superior alternative" to Netflix's own. The mass media company values Warner Bros. Discovery at $108.4 billion.
“We’re really here to finish what we started,” Paramount chief executive David Ellison told CNBC, telling the station that this offer was "anti-competitive" and that Netflix's is "a horrible deal for Hollywood."
Both Netflix and Warner Bros. stated on Friday that they support the original deal, which is valued at $82.7 billion. As we mentioned in our original report below, this deal will include Warner Bros. own gaming division, where major IPs such as the Mortal Kombat and Batman: Arkham series are based.
Sounds like this is going to be a fraught process...
Original Story: In a staggering piece of news this Friday, streaming giant Netflix has announced that it has entered an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire Warner Bros. in a deal that's valued at roughly $82.7 billion — an equity value of $72 billion.
Netflix is specifically acquiring Warner Bros.' Streaming & Studios company, which it created in June 2025 and includes including Game of Thrones, the DC Universe, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and platforms such as HBO and HBO Max and Warner Bros. Games.
The media company doesn't mention WB's gaming division at all in its press release. However, Game Developer has confirmed with a WB spokesperson that "the recently-restructured video game division... will be joining Netflix."
Currently, Warner Bros. Games includes a number of studios such as Rocksteady (Batman: Arkham series), NetherRealm Studios (Mortal Kombat), TT Games (LEGO), Portkey Games, and Avalanche Studios (Harry Potter), along with WB's studios in Boston, Montréal, New York, and San Francisco.
It's a huge deal that Netflix expect to take around 12-18 months, but that's if it goes through. We know how long other huge acquisitions have taken. Plus regulators are more than likely to get involved. Paramount had previously attempted to purchase the studio in October, which was rejected.

Images: Warner Bros.
If successful, Warner Bros. shareholders will receive $27.75 a share along with stock in Netflix and the company expects to make savings of around $2-$3 billion by the third year.
The deal could have a huge impact on these studios, and is yet another example of consolidation in the video game industry at a time when layoffs, game studio sales, and closures are rampant.
In fact, earlier this week, reports emerged that Netflix was selling Spry Fox, developer of Cozy Grove, back to the owners.
Rockstar

Yakuza / Like a Dragon Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Kiryu Fans Won't Want to Miss It

The Yakuza / Like a Dragon franchise is now officially 20 years old, and RGG Studio has produced a rather touching little video to celebrate.
Said video shows the past 20 years of a man's life, as he goes from being an overwhelmed university student to a stressed out office worker.
Granted, this doesn't sound very celebratory, but at each pivotal point in his life, he recalls words of wisdom from Kazuma Kiryu himself, and he finds the strength to push on. He's even got Kaz's chin scruff by the end of it.
It may seem crazy to think that the series has been around for so long, but then we can't forget that it's only really caught on in the west over the last decade.
It was Yakuza 0 (released in 2017 outside of Japan) that put the property on the map for many, but Kiryu's been kicking bad guys to bits since the PS2 era. Indeed, the very first Yakuza launched all the way back on the 8th December, 2005.
Yakuza / Like a Dragon has come a long way since, as evidenced by the fact that three Yakuza re-releases are out today on PS5. Yakuza 0 Director's Cut, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2 are now available on Sony's current-gen system, while Yakuza Kiwami 3 is still locked in for a 12th February 2026 launch.
How long have you been playing Yakuza / Like a Dragon games for? Did you ever think it'd become the franchise that it is today? Show us your favorite heat action in the comments section below.
Rockstar

GameStop Hints At Another Playable Character For Resident Evil Requiem

Although Capcom has remained tightlipped on the prospect of Leon Kennedy cropping up in the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, a good number of fans are adamant that the veteran character will indeed appear.
However, a new listing over on GameStop drops some new information regarding the Deluxe Edition of the game which, if accurate, seems to hint at a completely different playable character: Rosemary Winters (thanks, IGN).
Rose Winters is, if you remember, the protagonist in the Shadows of Rose DLC for Resident Evil: Village, having previously appeared in the main game as, uh... a bunch of dismembered limbs. Look, it's a pretty wild story.
The listing from GameStop specifically mentioned some cosmetic items for Rose, including the 'Morphic Visor' and 'Shadow Walker' costume pack.
This is all very bizarre indeed, not least because of how old Rose would be in Requiem's story. The new game is said to take place in 2028, which would essentially make her seven or eight years old. The Shadows of Rose DLC shot the story forward to the year 2037 in which she was portrayed as a teenager.
So if Rose does indeed appear as a child, would she really wear a visor of some sort? Would she wear a 'Shadow Walker' costume set? We're not so sure. Either way, the listing from GameStop is still up at the time of writing, so there seems to be at least some modicum of accuracy to it.
The listing also seems to imply that the popular Mercenaries Mode will also make a return in Requiem, while two new story scenarios are also being planned for the future.
Rockstar

You'll Probably Be Able to Pre-Order Saros PS5 Soon

It looks like Housemarque plans to open digital PS5 pre-orders for Saros in the very near future, as standard and Digital Deluxe editions of the game were rated in Taiwan earlier today.
Of course, with The Game Awards set to take place later this week, it appears likely that the PS5 title will appear during the show with a new trailer and official pre-order details. It's already scheduled in for 20th March 2026, meaning that the release is only three months away now.
In recent years, Digital Deluxe editions of games have moved away from the season pass model, and — Sony's special editions in particular — instead, they bundle the base game with additional outfits, weapons, and upgrade tokens.
You can probably expect this one for Saros to be similar, with protagonist Arjun Devraj getting some extra costumes for the intense trek across Carcosa. For when you can likely tune in for the announcement, check out our When Is The Game Awards 2025 guide.
Are you looking forward to Saros off the back of Returnal? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar

Sony's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic PS5 Remake May Soon Return

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Sony announced Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake, a timed PS5 exclusive modernisation of the classic RPG.
We first heard about this project way back in September 2021, but reported difficulties with development have significantly delayed its production.
Now, rumour has it that it may finally be time for the game to make a reappearance.
This comes from a leaker known as Kurakasis, who says a "big Star Wars game announcement is coming very soon", later clarifying that the game's title ends with "The Old Republic":
Knights of the Old Republic Remake was originally in development at Aspyr, but duties were reportedly handed over to Saber Interactive, delaying the game indefinitely.
The only thing made public about the project is its CG teaser trailer, which isn't even on official channels anymore, apparently due to the music licence expiring.
We've heard very little about the game over the years, but Saber Interactive insists that it's still alive and in development.
It would be great to see this game come back, hopefully with more to show, and The Game Awards would be a great venue for it.
It is possible that this rumour could be related to some other project within the Old Republic universe; some speculate it could be a Total War game, for example.
What are your thoughts on this? Have you been waiting to see the KOTOR remake return? Tell us in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Not Even Hideo Kojima Is Sure if Xbox Game OD Will Be Any Good

Hideo Kojima and his team have only ever made great games, but even he is unsure about how OD, the title he's making with Xbox, will turn out.
In an interview with Ananweb (via Automaton), Kojima is asked about his upcoming projects now that Death Stranding 2 is out. He says that while the latest trailer may make it look like a traditional horror game, it's actually "something completely different".
He continues: "I can't say what it is yet, and I don't know if it will work. We've made games that haven't been done before, like games where you can't be found or games where you have to make deliveries, but the system is the same as other games."
In the case of OD, Kojima says the developer is attempting to create "a different service format from the system", and it could be "quite challenging" to make.
OD is thought to be the next project Kojima Productions will release, as Physint — which is being developed in partnership with PlayStation — is still incredibly early in development. Horror movie maker Jordan Peele is working with Kojima on the project, but it's only confirmed for Xbox Series X|S so far. Given the multi-platform moves Microsoft has made recently, however, there's a good chance OD releases for PS5 too.
On Physint, Kojima jokingly says it could be made in his sleep since it's an espionage game. According to Kojima, the challenge with Physint comes from coming up with "new gimmicks" and crossing "the line between film and game".
Kojima Productions is thinking of having filmmakers on board for Physint as staff, not just as part of the cast. It's so early in production, though, that the chances are we're realistically looking at a PS6 title.
Do you want to play OD on PS5? Let us know in the comments below.
Rockstar

Dead Space Is 'On Ice', Could Be Sold Off to Help Cover EA's Acquisition Debt

Even though 2023's Dead Space remake was a hit both critically and commercially, publisher EA apparently has "no plans" to develop another instalment in the series.
And perhaps even more revealing, there's now talk of the company selling the horror IP off, in a bid to correct the debt that'll inevitably envelop EA when its acquisition deal closes next year.
This is according to anonymous sources from within the publisher, as per Insider Gaming. Said sources are "hoping" that EA will want to move Dead Space on to a new owner.
Indeed, it sounds like Dead Space could be one of numerous properties to be leveraged; it's described as being put "on ice", suggesting that the publisher has no interest in continuing the franchise itself.
Just to quickly recap, EA is set to be bought out by a consortium made up of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside US-based investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. Recent reports have said that the PIF will own the vast majority (93.4%) of the company.
The acquisition will cost the consortium a whopping $55 billion, but a huge part of that sum will be borrowed, dumping around $20 billion worth of debt on EA. In other words, there are going to be a lot of sales, closures, and layoffs throughout the company over the next few years.
And so, onlookers — and EA employees — are currently weighing up the bits and pieces that its new owners could deem to be sellable assets. Again, Dead Space could be one such IP.
Would you be okay with Dead Space jumping ship? Are you surprised there's no new game in the works? Stomp on some abominations in the comments section below.
Rockstar

Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow Review

For fans who have spent the last decade waiting for a true successor to the Looking Glass Studios classics, Legacy of Shadow is a complicated gift. It is not the hardcore immersive sim of the late 90s, but it is also far better than the infamous 2014 reboot. It sits somewhere in the middle: a genuinely atmospheric VR stealth game that nails the feeling of being a master thief, even if it sometimes stumbles on the mechanics.
The Gist
You don’t play as Garrett this time. Instead, you step into the boots of Magpie, a street-smart protégé. However, the legendary Master Thief (voiced again by the iconic Stephen Russell) is present as a "construct"—a spirit guiding you through a mechanical eye.
The game is built from the ground up for VR, meaning the focus is on tactile interactions: physically reaching out to snatch loot, manually picking locks, and drawing your bowstring.
The Good
The Atmosphere is Back: The "City" feels right. The steampunk-meets-medieval aesthetic is heavy with fog, gloom, and gear-turning machinery. Hearing Stephen Russell’s gravelly voice in your ear instantly triggers nostalgia.
Tactile Thievery: This is where the game shines.
Looting: You don't just press 'X' to steal. You physically reach out, grab a goblet, and toss it over your shoulder into your backpack. It’s incredibly satisfying.
Lockpicking: You insert picks with one hand and apply tension with the other, listening for the tumbler clicks. It’s tense and immersive.
The Bow: Nocking a water arrow to douse a torch from across a courtyard feels fantastic.
The Light Gem: A clever UI adaptation places the classic visibility gem on the back of your hand. A quick glance tells you if you are hidden in shadow or exposed in the light.
Comfort: The game offers a robust suite of comfort options (vignetting, snap turning, teleport vs. smooth walk) making it accessible even if you don't have strong "VR legs."
The Bad
Artificial Intelligence: The guards are... dim. They often struggle to spot you even when you feel exposed, and their patrol routes are rigid. If you are looking for the hyper-intelligent AI of Metal Gear Solid or the original Thief, you will find this too easy.
Binary Stealth: The shadow mechanic can feel "on/off." You are often completely invisible in a shadow that realistically shouldn't hide you, which can break immersion.
Length: The campaign runs about 6–8 hours. It is a tight experience, but it lacks the sprawling, labyrinthine maps of the original games.
Quest Visuals: On standalone headsets (Quest 2/3), the textures can look muddy and flat compared to the PCVR or PSVR 2 versions, which feature dynamic shadows and much sharper lighting.
The Verdict: 7/10
Thief VR: Legacy of Shadow is a "vibe" game. If you want to inhabit that world, physically sneak through dark corridors, and listen to Garrett begrudgingly mentor you, it is a delight. However, hardcore stealth purists may find the gameplay loops a bit too casual and the AI too forgiving.
Recommended for:
VR owners looking for a slower-paced, atmospheric game.
Thief fans desperate for any new content (hearing Stephen Russell is worth the price of admission alone).
Skip if:
You require highly complex AI opponents.
You are looking for a 20+ hour RPG.
Rockstar

The ROG Xbox Ally Has Just Received Its First Major Discount

Just under two months since the ROG Xbox Ally first arrived, it's just received its first major discount! Xbox has officially reduced its price by $100 in the US until December 20th, although only at certain retailers.
This brings the price of the standard ROG Xbox Ally down from $599 to $499 USD (or actually slightly lower in some cases) in time for Christmas, although keep in mind that supplies are limited and may not last until that Dec. 20 date.
Here's a look at Xbox's marketing for this deal:
A quick glance shows us that the ROG Xbox Ally is currently discounted at ASUS, Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart, but it's sold out on the Microsoft Store (and will likely disappear at Amazon soon too). The discount unfortunately doesn't apply here in the UK, where the lowest price we've found is at Harvey Norman for £479.00.
In terms of whether it's worth it, we've only been hands on with the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X version, but that system is fantastic and offers great ergonomics, cooling and access to a ridiculous number of games through the Xbox app, Steam, Epic Games Store and various other storefronts. The standard ROG Xbox Ally offers the same thing, but with reduced performance - similar to how the Xbox Series S stacks up against the more powerful Xbox Series X.
Here's a look at those deals, and do let us know if you spot any other great offers beyond the US!
Rockstar

Xbox Series X|S Had No Black Friday Deals, So They Lost To A Console We've Never Heard Of (US)

There's been an unfortunate narrative doing the rounds on social media this weekend about Xbox consoles, and it's all to do with some new Black Friday 2025 data that suggests the Series X and Series S sold poorly during BF week.
Specifically, Mat Piscatella of the analysis group "Circana" took to Bluesky on Sunday to share how the PlayStation 5 dominated Black Friday week with 47% of gaming hardware sales in the US, followed by the Switch 2 at 24% and the little-known NEX Playground at 14%. The other 15% will have been shared by the Xbox Series X, Series S, Switch 1 and whatever else falls into the hardware category (not specified).
To be honest, we had to look up the NEX Playground to figure out what it was — apparently it's a Kinect-like system for "kids and families" that's got amazing reviews and only costs $249 USD. The things you learn!

As you can see, it wasn't great in the UK either. The Game Business reported that Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S only accounted for 10% of the market during Black Friday week, with the PS5 racking up a whopping 62%.
Before we get all doom and gloom though, this is exactly what was to be expected. Xbox basically had no Black Friday deals for the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S apart from some extremely slight reductions at a handful of retailers (mostly in the UK), whereas the PS5 received massive reductions and therefore ended up selling predictably well.
Industry experts have warned that the BF sales data doesn't tell us much about "consumer demand" for Xbox:
Nevertheless, the fact that Xbox Series X|S apparently lost to the NEX Playground in the US not only makes for an interesting angle, but adds fuel to the narrative that nobody's buying Xbox consoles anymore. There is a good reason behind it in this case, but that part's inevitably getting overlooked by many fans of the industry.
Should Xbox have made a bigger effort to sell Series X and S consoles during Black Friday this year? Maybe that's a lesson to learn for next time, but we have a feeling Microsoft's more focused on the future of its hardware, services and software rather than continuing to push the Series X and S right now.
Rockstar

System Shock Remake Hacks Onto Switch & Switch 2 Later This Month

Nightdive Studios is bringing its awesome System Shock remake to the Switch and Switch 2, and we can now exclusively reveal that it'll be available to play from 18th December 2025.
Originally released in 2023, System Shock is a comprehensive yet faithful remake of the 1994 FPS from Looking Light Studios. Development was lengthy and somewhat troubled, with Nightdive striving to reboot the original with more modern design principles.
In the end, however, to deliver on the promises of its initial Kickstarter campaign, the team chose to lean more towards a remake, keeping the core elements of the original intact while introducing a plethora of quality-of-life updates.
Ultimately, Nightdive succeeded in its goal, and System Shock received mostly positive critical acclaim upon release. Taking place in the year 2072, you play as an unnamed hacker who awakens in a station under total control of SHODAN, an AI completely removed from its moral and ethical restraints. Grotesque mutations and cyborgs roam the station, and it's up to you to defeat SHODAN.
With visuals blending pixel art textures and modern lighting technology, the System Shock remake is, to put it lightly, a vibe. It's a significantly different experience compared to System Shock 2, which Nightdive also released on the Switch earlier this year. If you're curious, we definitely recommend giving it a shot. For those on Switch 2, the game will offer up both gyro aiming and optional mouse controls.


Images: Nightdive Studios
Rockstar

This Modder Turned Their Humble Wii U GamePad Into A Fully Functional Switch

What do you do when you're surfing the old interwebs and happen upon a bunch of lovely gaming folk wondering if anyone has ever stuffed a Switch — in fully working order — into a Wii U GamePad (also still in complete working order)?
Well, if it were us, we'd shut off our internet and go for a nice, long walk outside. Maybe we'd never come back. However, (and as reported by GoNintendo) retro gaming YouTuber and modder extraordinaire @KouzexMods accepted it as a challenge and decided it was time to take matters into their own hands.
As you can see in the impressively detailed video up top, this was no half-hearted job either. Nope, this expert retro modder has gone all in, drawing up a list of rules to stick by and everything, and it's fascinating to watch along as a Switch Lite console is stripped right down, very carefully, whilst designs are drawn up for how to have every part of the Wii U GamePad still fully functional whilst making it useable and comfortable.


Images: @KouzexMods


Images: @KouzexMods
There are even some improvements made to the base Switch console's performance during the process here, with upgrades to its battery, screen and a few other things that you can check out in the vid. Honestly, it's worth watching the full thing to see just how much effort and ingenuity went in here, and how problems met along the way were circumvented.
The vid wraps up with what we have to say looks like a very polished hybrid console, and muscle memory tells us that — let's face it — it's probably way more comfortable to hold than a vanilla Switch Lite. Man, that GamePad was comfortable.
Like the modding job that's been done here? Fancy turning your GamePad (if you're one of the seventy or so people who owned one) into a Switch? Let us know! (But also, don't blame us when you break it)
Rockstar

Polymega Collection Vol. 6 - Heavy Barrel - A Double-Shot Of Run-And-Gun Brilliance

Polymega Collection Vol. 6 - Heavy Barrel features two Data East-made run-and-gun shooters, neither of which really achieved the same level of fame as the likes of Commando, Ikari Warriors and Mercs back in the day.
1987's Heavy Barrel was clearly an attempt by Data East to muscle in on the craze for horizontally-scrolling shooters, and for the most part, it's a successful clone of the more notable examples from Capcom and SNK.
Supporting two players at the same time, Heavy Barrel's levels scroll both horizontally and vertically, while keys you pick up during gameplay can be used to unlock chests and gain access to different weapons (a bit like Midnight Resistance, another Data East title). The most notable firearm is the titular 'Heavy Barrel', which cannot be acquired at once but has to be assembled from six different parts.
It's the most potent weapon in the game and cuts through enemies like a hot knife through butter – but with a catch. It lasts for half a minute before it vanishes, which avoids you being so overpowered that you can literally sleepwalk through the game.
Heavy Barrel got an NES port back in the day, but it can't really hold a candle to the arcade original – so it's great to see it get a new lease of life on Polymega. The aforementioned port is included, at least – so you can see just how weak it is when compared to the original. I would imagine there will be plenty of people out there who got their first taste of the game on Nintendo's console, so this could have some nostalgic appeal.
However, even more appealing is the second game on this collection, 1991's Desert Assault (also known as Thunder Zone). This title was never ported to any home system back in the '90s, which is a crying shame as it's one of Data East's most accomplished arcade games.
With its gorgeous visuals, insane set-pieces and support for up to four players, Desert Assault is simply brilliant – and, if you're interested in this kind of thing, there are a bunch of changes between the 'World' and Japanese versions of the game, which means it's worth experiencing both.
Given that we've seen a lot of previous Polymega Collection releases with multiple games included, it feels a bit cheap for Playmaji to only have included two on this release (well, three if you count the NES port as a stand-alone game). Where's 1988's Bloody Wolf, for example, which is often considered by fans to be part of the same loose series as Heavy Barrel and Desert Assault?
Still, while it's hard to argue that this sixth Polymega Collection is especially good value for money, at least the two games included are of a high standard.
Rockstar

Hitoshi Sakimoto's 40-Year Career In Video Game Music Is Being Celebrated With A New Concert

Hitoshi Sakimoto has been composing music for video games for 40 years, and his remarkable contribution to the medium is being marked with a unique concert in London next year.
"The Colors of Harmony will be the 40th anniversary of Hitoshi Sakimoto‘s work on soundtracks which brought to life many enchanting worlds created by legendary Japanese studios Vanillaware and Square Enix," says GameMusic.net, the company behind the event. "The composer will join us in person for this special evening, accompanied by the London Mozart Players orchestra and a host of talented soloists."
Sakimoto has worked on titles such as Final Fantasy Tactics, Radiant Silvergun, Odin Sphere, Final Fantasy XII, Vagrant Story, Gradius V, Valkyria Chronicles and many, many more. He founded the music and audio production firm Basiscape in 2002, after leaving Square.
"Music crafted by Basiscape under the direction of Hitoshi Sakimoto has always held a special place in the hearts of millions of gamers worldwide," adds Game Music.net. "The Colors of Harmony concert will feature beloved themes from Vanillaware titles such as 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim and Odin Sphere Leifthrasir, as well as Square Enix classics including Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. Beyond the concert itself, there is an accompanying event planned with Hitoshi Sakimoto, the details of which will be revealed at a later stage."
You can secure your tickets here.
Rockstar

"We Believe This Is The Right Step" - Unofficial FPGA Sega Neptune Gets Pushed Into 2026

The launch of the GF1 Neptune – a FPGA recreation of the Genesis / Mega Drive and 32X combo that never actually hit store shelves – has been delayed.
GamesCare, the Brazilian company behind the project, has stated that the delay will enable it to "ensure that both the software and the cores provide a stable and high-quality experience."
Here's the PR from GamesCare:
Sega originally announced the Neptune project back in the mid-'90s, just as it was preparing to release the 32X and Saturn. Neptune would have combined the Genesis and 32X into a single system, offering a more elegant entry point for those who weren't ready to invest in a Saturn.
Mock-ups of the console were shown off to the press, but the poor performance of the 32X convinced Sega to pull the plug and focus all of its energies on Saturn instead.
Rockstar

Here's What Might Leave Xbox Game Pass In January 2026

What's leaving Xbox Game Pass in January 2026? Well, Microsoft hasn't confirmed anything just yet, but based on some games that were added to the service this time last year, we can at least make a few predictions ahead of time.
We know that a lot of Xbox users want more advance notice of games leaving Xbox Game Pass, but Microsoft usually gives us around two weeks right now - and don't forget, publishers sometimes secure late deals with Microsoft to keep their games on Game Pass, even after they've been announced to be leaving!
So, before we take a look at the following list of potential games leaving Xbox Game Pass in January 2026, we want to stress that nothing has been confirmed yet, and this will not be a 100% accurate list by any means. Some of these games might leave, some of these games might stay, and many others might be added to the list.
The most common (but definitely not the only) trend with Xbox Game Pass seems to be that games stick around for one year, so we've gone back to January 2025 to look at the games that were added to Game Pass at the time. That said, we've also gone back to the January 2024 list as well, just to see what may potentially stick around for two years in total. Based on those original announcements, here's what we think could potentially leave Xbox Game Pass in January 2026:
Date It Joined Xbox Game Pass
Game
Platform
January 9, 2024
Assassin's Creed Valhalla (seems unlikely?)
Console, PC, Cloud
January 16, 2024
Resident Evil 2
Console, PC, Cloud
January 19, 2024
Palworld
Console, PC, Cloud
January 25, 2024
Go Mecha Ball
Console, PC, Cloud
January 30, 2024
Brotato
Console, PC, Cloud
January 7, 2025
Road 96
Console, PC, Cloud
January 21, 2025
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders
Console, PC, Cloud
January 22, 2025
Starbound
Console, PC, Cloud
January 23, 2025
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black (seems unlikely?)
Series X|S, PC, Cloud
January 28, 2025
Eternal Strands
Console, PC, Cloud
January 28, 2025
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap
Series X|S, PC, Cloud
January 29, 2025
Shady Part of Me
Console, PC, Cloud
January 30, 2025
Sniper Elite: Resistance
Console, PC, Cloud
January 31, 2025
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector
Console, PC, Cloud
As usual, there could be plenty of additions to this list, and a few of these games might stick around on Xbox Game Pass for even longer, but it seems likely that we'll lose at least some of these in January 2026. Our predictions usually turn out to be anywhere from 30%-80% correct - you never know how accurate they'll be!
We still have another batch of titles to come to the service this month too, including Mortal Kombat 1 which headlines next week on Xbox Game Pass!
Rockstar

The Bloodlines 2 Team Is Giving Away A ROG Xbox Ally X For Free

Since the release of the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X a couple of months ago, it's been hard to find any kind of discounts or giveaways for the two devices, but we've just come across something via the Bloodlines 2 team on social media.
As you can see below, they're giving away a free ROG Xbox Ally X, which is pretty crazy considering how expensive (£799.99, €899.99, $999.99) that device is! You're going to need some serious luck to win it, but you might as well try.
Here's a look at what you'll need to like and comment on:
We're sure there's some kind of terms and conditions page for this somewhere, but we haven't managed to locate one yet and nothing's mentioned in this tweet. Just like it, comment on it, and see what happens later this month...
I'm personally of the belief that the ROG Xbox Ally X is a really cool handheld that opens up so many possibilities for PC gaming on the go, and if you can manage to grab one for free, you've pretty much won the jackpot in our eyes!
Rockstar

Assassin's Creed Shadows On Switch 2 Supposedly "Unplayable" For Some Players After Repeated Crashes

Apart from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, one other significant Switch 2 release this week was the third-party title Assassin's Creed Shadows. While Ubisoft's new feudal Japan outing has been mostly well-received by critics on Nintendo's new hybrid platform, it seems the experience hasn't been quite as enjoyable for some players.
Multiple message board posts and social media threads online are filled with player reports about the game randomly crashing. Some players have even experienced repeated crashes, forcing them to completely halt their play sessions until Ubisoft deploys a patch.
The following comments in a thread on the Switch 2 subreddit highlights just how much of a problem this has become for some players:
There is seemingly no clear solution or fix to stop these game crashes, but it hasn't stopped players sharing their own ideas.
Some suggest playing the title exclusively in docked mode, making sure the game is installed on Switch 2's internal storage, changing the system resolution, turning off HDR, disabling various other options, and even reinstalling the game...
Some users here on Nintendo Life have also reported encountering crashes in Assassin's Creed Shadows for Switch 2.
Critics have noted issues with frame-pacing, and recommend handheld mode for the best experience, but there seems to be fewer reports about game crashes during the review phase. TheSixthAxis was one site that directly acknowledged this "underlying issue" – referencing "a series of crashes" not long into the adventure, but "no clear trigger". Nintendo World Report also mentioned the "occasional" software crash.
In our own review here on Nintendo Life, we admitted Assassin's Creed Shadows wasn't the perfect port, but still felt it was a colossal achievement on Nintendo's new system.
So, when might we see a patch for this problem? As highlighted in the Reddit thread above, the YouTube channel 'What's It Like?' (which also "experienced several crashes" during its review of the game) says it reached out to Ubisoft's support and there's supposedly a patch planned for mid-December, which will apparently address "some" technical issues with the Switch 2 version. And with so many player reports now, Ubisoft has hopefully got the message.
Until we get an update from Ubisoft, tell us how your time with Assassin's Creed Shadows on the Switch 2 has been so far? Have you experienced any crashes? Vote in our poll, and let us know in the comments.
Rockstar

Mario Kart World - Course Changes Side-By-Side Comparison (Original & Version 1.4.0 Update)

Earlier this week, Nintendo released a new update for the Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World, bumping the racer up to Version 1.4.0.
In case you missed it, this is a major update, including all sorts of adjustments, changes and improvements. One highlight, in particular, is tied to the game's courses. As mentioned in the patch notes, the layout of select tracks has been changed for certain modes.
YouTube channel 'RetroArchive' has now shared a look at all these changes and redesigns in a side-by-side comparison video featuring footage of the original versions. As a point of reference, here's what's been updated according to Nintendo's official patch notes:
Mario Kart World - Version 1.4.0
Changed the course layout of below courses for "VS Race", or "Race" in "Online Play" or "Wireless Play".
Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "DK Spaceport".
Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "Crown City".
Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "Peach Stadium".
Race that heads from "Whistlestop Summit" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "Desert Hills" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "DK Spaceport" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "Crown City" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "Peach Stadium" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
*Changed it so that, in all races heading toward "Koopa Troopa Beach", including the above courses, you will cross the finish line after two laps once you arrive at "Koopa Troopa Beach".
What do you think of these course layout updates? How are you finding this new patch for Mario Kart World? Let us know in the comments.
Rockstar

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